wicked fast.

- 

Archie feels his body stiffen as the other laces their fingers together. It’s odd, the fact that his signet ring doesn’t catch on another family ring, that the rough fingers don’t feel out of place when all he has been used to are dainty and soft. His mind is moving a thousand miles a minute, sure that it is all being displayed on his features ( he always has been horrid at hiding his thoughts ). The question floats in the air between them, and Archie opens his mouth to answer but he can’t fucking say it. He’s too scared and that’s something he’s never been allowed to feel. Fear is one word that has been shoved so far from his vocabulary it feels foreign. 

He can’t say anything, can’t figure out a coherent sentence as his gaze travels from Charlie’s shoulder to meet the brown eyes staring back at him. He blinks a few times, shaking away the hold Medusa had on his spine, cracking the bits of stone he felt had trapped him moments ago. Archie doesn’t want him to stop, doesn’t want the other to ever fucking leave and that is something he really can’t try to comprehend right now. So instead, the hand not wrapped in Charlie’s quickly finds purchase below the other’s ear, hand wrapping around the side of his neck as his thumb lays on his jaw. The kiss is brash, Archie acting more than thinking, and he hopes this is what the other was insinuating. 

-

as usual, archie is a surprise: leaning up, pressing their lips together like they were the last two people at the end of all things. it’s fucking attractive. all coherent thought fades away as he gets lost in it, releasing his grip on archie’s hand to run his fingers through dark brown curls. if possible, his heart beats quicker at the thought of ruining perfectly gelled hair, and the mental image alone is enough for him to emit the smallest of sighs. the smell of archie’s cologne is strong enough to make charlie light headed ( it could also be the lack of air in his lungs, the reluctance to peel his lips away from archie’s because oxygen just sounds so much less desirable in comparison to the softness of his lips ) 

the kiss is bruising, and the burning in his lungs eventually grows strong enough for him to pull away just enough to catch his breath before diving back in like he’s been wandering the desert and archie is the first drink of water he’s had in months. his arm winds around archie’s waist, and they’re so close together an outsider would have difficulty telling where charlie began and where archie ended. it’s raptuous. the heat is overwhelming, enough where he’s SURE his cheeks to the back of his neck is flushed a deep scarlet. it’s enough for charlie to hum in contentment, in relief, for him to barely contain the impulse that screams to press archie against the stone wall and ravish the fuck out of him. it’s not gentle, but it’s tender and forceful in ways he’s never known, and now how the fuck is he supposed to ever go back to the way things were before ?? 

Inside, a series of sketches and watercolor paintings. apollo lazing on a windowsill. tig in magical creatures club, that peaceful glow about her face. and archie: a close up of his fingers grasping a quill, a side profile of him in the library, curls falling like pieces into place. archie, tig, and ajax from a distance. a study of his lips, and the different smiles he wears. the way his eyes crinkle at the corner. and finally, hastily done: the last time they spoke. a focus on archie’s cheek in his palm, and longing fingers reaching out to link together. 

on the back, a message in charlie’s tired scrawl.

Merry Christmas. 

“Appears so,” he hums, eyes widening as the other picks up his hand. He’s frozen, momentarily, heart fucking racing and making fear bubble in his throat. This is what he wanted, though, wasn’t it? That’s the whole fucking reason he stood outside Ravenclaw tower like a stalker. His gaze won’t move away, find something else to stare at like a toddler just now discovering ice cream. He’s seconds away from lacing his fingers through the others before Charlie speaks again, making him look up and drop his hand - a bit shamefully. “Excuse me, those are fighting words, Wood.” 

Archie wants to bite back - come up with a lie that he wasn’t looking for the other and he should stop thinking so highly of himself; but it dies on the tip of his tongue. “Can’t say it’s the first time I’ve left someone speechless,” he teases. Although the bravado isn’t quite there. His voice is softer than it has been in weeks, and he knows it’s because of Charlie. There’s something about him that just makes his head fall into a blur and he can’t fucking think right. Which is the most infuriating part, as that is what he has always been best at. Being able to tell what the next step is or how to get himself out of a major fuck up has always been his strong suit. He’s quiet, probably for much too long, before he clears his throat and flexes his fingers at his side. “If you wanted to hold my hand, you should’ve just done it.” He’s not looking at Charlie as he says it, instead lightly to the left of him and over his shoulder, trying to school his features into something neutral. 

- 

Archie turns his head, refuses to look at him, and Charlie, for all he loves the banter ( TEASING laughter and obnoxious eye rolls, the way archie’s face gets when charlie has made a truly terrible joke ) just...doesn’t want to play games anymore. “ Okay.” allowing his Aching hands to finally, finally reach out: to lace their fingers together with a boldness he hasn’t felt since he was fourteen, to turn archie’s face up towards him. soft skin beneath his own calluses, exactly like how he imagined but not the same at all. “what else do you want ?? “ 

charlie can hear his own heart beating: he knows what he w a n t s but there is a certainty in his own gaze that his companion lacks. even as they stand a moment away. even as he can feel every breath fanning on the exposed skin of his neck. even as the rest of the room blurs, and nothing exists but big brown eyes and the glow of evening. And if Archie wants him to just take, he will, but he needs to k n o w, “ Arch. “ so quiet, the sound of his breathing might drown it out, “ Archie. Tell me to stop.” tell me to stop and I will, but please don’t say that. please want this too, because i haven’t wanted like this in so long. 

“No one’s ever complained about their softness before,” he mused, quirking an eyebrow at the other. The innuendo slipped past his lips a bit too easy - but he was relaxing just slightly. He wasn’t ashamed of his past, it made him into who he is today. Archie knew the comment probably should’ve bothered him, but he couldn’t find it in himself to really care. “Wood, I hate to say it, but you don’t seem like the type that isn’t friends with everyone they meet,” he said, letting out a small laugh. It wasn’t a bad thing for someone to be, either. He found it admirable, in ways. Archie looked at Charlie for a bit too long - taking in his words and feeling his hands get clammy. He was mentally cursing himself, should’ve stayed in his bed tossing and turning instead of walking all this way. “You’re almost as bad as Tig,” he said, clearing his throat to stop it from almost cracking. 

Archie raised an eyebrow, tilting his head slightly to the right. “Why’s that?” he asked, before the right side of his mouth quirked up in a smirk. “Can’t stand to leave me now that you’re here?”

-

the innuendo isn’t lost on charlie, laugh bubbling up in reply, “ well, there’s a first time for everything.” and because apparently he has no self preservation, charlie’s suddenly got one of archie’s hands in his. gently, of course, but his heart is racing faster than it ever has on a broom as one of his hands holds up archie’s palm and wrist, while the other toys with soft, wide fingers he wants laced with his or running through his hair or- other things that he can’t think about right now if he wants to leave this conversation with SOME dignity. but he doesn’t want to let go, and archie hasn’t yet yanked his hands away. and before he can blink, archie is speaking again, and charlie finds himself letting out a somewhat uncharacteristically sardonic chuckle, “ you’d be surprised, Boston. And that’s a compliment: Tig’s the only one of you three that’s got s e n s e.” 

he had been thinking about allie and the guilt in the pit of his stomach, but all of that slowly fades into a haze in the back of his mind at the sight of archie’s smirk. charlie’s voice is quiet in reply; not a murmur, but something intimate enough for the emptiness of the hall and the heat radiating off his companion, “ yeah... yeah, something like that. ” archie’s lips look so soft, a stark contrast to the challenge normally gracing his features. heart in his throat, charlie’s eyes flicker up to meet the warmest of browns, shining with the light of the floating torches and the moon peeking in from outside, “ I’m glad you looked for me tonight. And that we met this term.” his head feels kind of fuzzy ( is it possible to get intoxicated off of someone’s proximity ?? )  “ You’re just... something else, Arch. “ 

-

tig was lost. she’d gotten turned around at some point trying to leave the castle and had complete gotten separated from both archie and ajax… and they had all her stuff. as she was attempting to suss out which direction to start in tig heard her name being called. she turned quickly to the direction of the call. it was always weird to hear her full name called out. “hello charlie.” she said with a smile as he pushed through the crowds to her. it was a bit unexpected, but not anything worth complaining over. antigone quite liked charlie. he was nice and meant something to archie. besides, it was always nice to have another person around who liked to play the violin. “is everything alright? you’re out of breath.” the package in his hand drew her attention. she pointed at the wrapped up package.. “oh do you want me to give that to archie?”

-

coming to a stop in front of her, it takes a moment for her words to register, “ oh, no, sorry. i floo home, so i’ve never had to wake up for the train, but I needed to catch you and I, ah... thought I was too late. “ thought you’d be with your brothers and he’d have to run with his tail between his legs. thankfully, charlie had enough presence of mind to throw on a shirt and trainers before running out of the tower, but he’s is also aware he looks like a disaster that just rolled out of bed.

thankfully, tig changes the subject. holding it out to her with a sheepish smile, “ yeah, if that’s alright ?? ‘M sorry to ask when I haven’t got anything for you. “ which, even though him and tig aren’t bffs, is still a bit of a dick move. and because he’s embarrassed and a bit guilty, he goes on to explain: “ I was going to give it last night but I ah.. “ i lost my mind and snogged your brother. then he fucking ran like his arse was on fire, “ we’re...I mean, I think we’ve had a bit of a row. but i still thought he should have it, so. “ god damn it,  just say please and thank you, instead of going on like a bumbling idiot.  quickly looking around, trying to change the subject, “ are you... sorry, are you not bringing anything with you for break ?? “  

he’s breathless in a way he hasn’t been since he was thirteen, all gangly limbs and no muscle mass to speak of. to be fair, he’d been up all night tossing and turning, replaying his last conversation with archie until the sun had risen and he’d realized his trunk was still not yet packed.  he’s lucky enough that he can just floo home, doesn’t have to worry about boarding the train with everyone else. he’s unlucky in that the person he desperately needs to find will be. 

thankfully, charlie’s able to spot a distinct head of blonde hair, mercifully without her usual escorts at her side, “ tig !! “ he calls, giving hurried excuse me’s and pardon me’s and sorry mates as he squeezes through, clutching his precious cargo to his chest, “ antigone !! ” 

- 

Archie let a small laugh slip through his lips, shaking his head. “Boston is barely big in comparison to other cities,” he pointed out, feeling as if that was a good enough rebuttal. He shrugged a shoulder, eyes squinting as he thought about all the interactions he had with the other. “Not really… I- I used to be really good at making friends,” he started, sucking his cheeks in as he stopped himself. It was like someone had slipped him veritaserum, and he just wanted to talk. “Please, he can’t do anything worse than what’s already happened to me,” he replied, his laughter less real this time. 

His gaze drifts to Charlie’s hand on his shoulder - when he would usually tense he found himself relaxing. If he closed his eyes he could transport himself back to Salem, surrounded by his friends and those he found comfort of more in. Sadly, Jax was much better at the past than Archie was, no matter how hard he tried to think about it. “No, no,” he shook his head, clearing his throat. “It’s alright, don’t want to quite go back yet,” Archie replied, one side of his mouth turning up in a smile. 

-

“ Doesn’t change the fact you wouldn’t last a day in the country. Those soft hands ever had to work for their own food before ?? “ he teases, though now he’s got to act like he hasn’t stared at Archie’s hands before ( and they’re...very nice hands. he wants to press them to his cheeks. ) “I’d say you’re still not half bad at it. Charmed me into walking around with you when I could be in bed. “ he wants archie to keep talking, wants the sense of comfort radiating from his companion to stay there forever. but he can’t just leave it. he can’t even imagine everything archie has gone through in the past year ( he doesn’t even know the half of it but the thought of losing his parents makes him ache in ways he’s never ached before ) but, well. British Pureblood Society is a snakepit, and Archie is walking right in, “ I- “ an exhale, “ I care about you, yeah ?? Some of that lot are bad news, and ‘m just...worried.” and before he can even think: “Just write me saying you survived, or something.” Just write to me saying you don’t hate me, please. 

“Alright.” a part of him secretly relieved; he doesn’t want this to end, doesn’t want to think about the weeks he’s going to spend without seeing archie ( kicking himself for avoiding the library, though he k n o w s it was for the best ) His hand lingers on Archie’s shoulder for an extra moment, before he forces himself to pull back: “ Probably for the best. I really don’t want to go back to Ravenclaw either.“ he admits, wincing a bit. 

dorcas and jackson, obviously. don’t give me that look, i’m not blind. 

christmas break, letters To: @cfthewoods​

Charlie–

Hey, so I know we don’t talk much but Archie likes you probably likes you but he’s not there yet so figured might as well get to know you better right? Sorry I’m not the best at letters. Or people. Archie’s best at people. Tig is best at letters. You draw don’t you? I do too. You’re in that art club Marlene’s always trying to get me to join.

What do you like? 

Ajax, 

I’m not very good with letters either, so we can be terrible together. I can believe that your sister is the best at letters though, she seems like the sort to be really thoughtful like that. I draw a bit, but I mostly paint. Watercolours are fun. What do you normally like to draw? Marlene’s a bit pushy like that, but she means well. If you don’t want to join a club, Ted and I go out to sketch sometimes, and you’re welcome to come along if you want. 

Other than drawing, I love Quidditch. I also like animals (both magical & not), and I play violin sometimes. 

What about you? 

-

“Strong words, farm boy,” he said, the tease slipping his lips before he could think about them. It’s not like he regretted teasing the other, he just… Was in a new territory here, and he didn’t want to fuck up. It was something he’s been quite good at in the past. Archie let out a laugh, shaking his head, “I doubt I’ll be busy outside of hanging out with Tig and Jax. Malfoy invited me to his party, so there’s that, but,” he shrugged a shoulder. 

Archie thought about it for a moment, before letting out a breath of air, “I guess you should be a bit honored, yeah.” He slowed down, turning and resting against a wall. He was trying to stop himself from fidgeting, but he wasn’t quite sure how that was going to happen. “I… Honestly. Don’t fucking know what I’m going here,” he began, sighing. “I literally don’t even remember leaving my dorm and them boom. There I was.”

-

The laughter slips from his lips, “ What are you going to do about it, Mr. Big City ?? ” he doesn’t even think, intentionally ( teasingly ) bumping into his companion. But the carefree air doesn’t last long, gone as soon as Archie utters the name Malfoy. “ You’re... you’re friends with Lucius Malfoy ?? “ It’s not like him and Lucius have interacted enough to have an active dislike, but the implication that Archie is going to that manor, that he’s going to be surrounded by the people that shunned and scorned his family, that not-so quietly whisper terrible things about the people he loves... fucking hell. Should he s a y something ?? It’s not really his place but, “ You should... I mean. Just. Be careful, yeah ?? “  

Charlie slows with him, leaning against the wall ( Trying his hardest not to look too concerned at the unease radiating out of ever fibre of Archie’s being ) For all his emotional intelligence, he’s a bit lost as to handle a discomforted Archie Graves; doesn’t seem like the type to want to talk it out, doesn’t seem like he’d want a hug. Charlie’s hands, traitors they are, decide on a middle ground: one reaches out, clasping Archie’s shoulder and giving a comforting squeeze, “ I... It happens. ‘S been a long year.” especially for you goes unsaid. His eyes search Archie’s for any sort of sign, “ D’you want me to walk you back to Gryffindor Tower ?? “ 

“I think we’ve met different versions of Pince,” he said, chuckling softly. Of course, she had never done anything besides shoot him a glare whenever he walked in and out, so maybe he truly didn’t have the brunt of her librarian rage. Archie nodded as he spoke, taking in the information and keeping his face absolutely neutral. Well. Mostly neutral. If the corners of his lips curled into a smile that is for him to worry about. 

“Desiree’s, yeah,” he confirmed, her name always leaving a sharp taste in his mouth.. “Southwest London, actually… I’ve been told it’s important to modify exactly where in London, which is a bit weird, but,” he shrugged. “Apparently north and south London are different to those that are posh enough to care,” Archie laughed. Which, had this been Boston he would have had the same exact care towards where exactly people said they were from. But it wasn’t Boston, and there was still a part of him that was clinging to the past. Even when he knew it was always best to stick in the present. 

-

His brow furrows at the way Archie’s voice says her name, but he doesn’t dwell on it. From what he knows, Archie hates talking about his feelings with a bleeding passion. “ Wouldn’t know, they’re all twats. “ never mind that the graves siblings are also from a city ( there are, of course,  exceptions to every rule, and tig is the nicest person he’s ever met ) “ Maybe I’ll see you around...” try to sound a little less hopeful when you say that, idiot, “ I- unless you’re going to be busy. ” Will I see you walking around with some pretty girl on your arm ?? HELL, this is pitiful. 

the quiet isn’t awkward, but it isn’t peaceful. his palms are too sweaty for that, his body too aware at how close they’re walking, at the warmth radiating off his companion. his hand twitches, silently pleading to reach out. it’s distracting enough that he doesn’t realize where his feet have been leading them until they’re moving through empty corridors and seldom used passages. it’s...eerily quiet for the final night of term. but instead of dwelling on that, charlie finds himself swallowing, “ so, ah. should I be honored you decided to spend your last night waiting for me ?? “ his words are broken up with a teasing smile, an attempt at fixing whatever this...weird mood was. 

the painting is in water color, and holds cats hanging from balloons, each representing a prewett sibling. the balloon fabian’s cat hangs from has little broomsticks drawn in ink on a blue background. above his head are thought bubbles with things like “mary is so pretty” written with little red hearts around it. it’s absolutely stupid, and drawn with the intent of making fabian laugh. 

Hey Cap, Merry Christmas! Come back to earth soon and tell Molly she’s my favorite Prewett. 

Inside the box and nestled in crumpled newspaper, an OBNOXIOUSLY orange mug, the words “PAINT WATER” written across the front. its sister, a regular white mug with the words “NOT PAINT WATER” across the front to match.the inside of the mugs hold a few tubes of paint, colors he’d noticed ted running low on. 

Teddy Bear,  

Please stop accidentally drinking your paint water. That shit is toxic and I wouldn’t last 48 hours without you. 

Love you Forever and Happy Hols!

Charlie 

P.S. Niamh says hello. The baby is due any day now !! Everyone is so excited to meet little Oona/Oliver ( Niamh and Louis are convinced it’s a girl, but mum says otherwise ) and we’re all 90% sure Niamh and Louis are going to sneak off to get married before he pops out. Sorry to crush your dreams, but you won’t be becoming my brother in law any time soon. 

the painting is watercolor, as usual. the snitch clasped in daisy’s fingers, hints of her clove and the blue of her robes in the background.  the letter contains charlie’s familiar (slightly messy but doing his best) scrawl. 

Hooks, Merry Christmas to the best of both Seekers and friends (don't tell Ted, i'd never hear the end of it)

See you soon!  Wood 

- 

“Oh, it’s fine. Pointless to be there now when there’s nothing to study for,” he replied. Of course, he had gone a few times since exams were over. Once because Apollo managed to sneak off again. And once… Well, it’s not important. Archie steeled himself, forcing his shuffling feet to give up their ruse and stop making him look like a fool. It was never this hard, before. He had classmates lining up to be seen next to him on a night outside of Salem. He could grab a girl’s hand and twirl her into an embrace with no problem. What the fuck was going on? 

Of course, half of himself was convinced the other had slipped him a love potion. The other half knew that was idiotic because it had been attempted once, and he remembers the sickly sweet taste like a nightmare. “Probably best to not block the entrance, right?” he replied, turning and starting off towards who knows where - because Archie sure as shit didn’t. “You’re going home for break, right?”

-

“ sometimes its nice. pince gets just a wee bit kinder after exams are over. “ he jokes, but there’s still a pang. allie had gotten the library in the breakup ( “ in the divorce “ as fabian had joked ) and at first, the thought of archie waiting at their usual table alone was enough to make his gut roll with guilt. but if archie hadn’t been coming anyway, either due to  the lack of exams or because he only wanted to hang out with charlie when it was convenient... maybe it was for the best. charlie doesn’t want to be jaded, but the insecurities greet him like an old friend. 

“ Yeah. I’ll be in London after Christmas to help Niamh get everything ready for the baby, but I’ll mostly be home. ” he lets his muscle memory take over, going god knows where because he’s physically incapable of paying attention to anything other than how archie G L O W S in the candle light, “ You’re going to your Aunt’s, right ??  Tig and Ajax both mentioned it. Is she also in Scotland, or ?? “ Will I be able to accidentally see you around is unsaid, but probably not unheard.  

His eyebrows furrowed for a moment, confused before he shook his head. “Tig? Oh, no. No. She’s probably asleep at this point. I mean, I hope she’s asleep,” he said, rambling slightly before cutting himself off. It was a nervous habit - one that made him feel vulnerable. And that was the last thing that he wanted to do in front of Charlie. “Also, how would you do that if she was in her dorm? No, that doesn’t matter,” he quickly discarded the thought. 

Archie could feel his legs vibrating, shifting from foot to foot as he racked his brain for any sort of logical reasoning as to why he was waiting outside the Ravenclaw dorms for the other. The guy who he had maybe a handful of conversations with, had stared at from different tables, had realized that maybe he thought of Charlie in ways he should have thought of other students. “Listen. I-… I just wanted to catch you before break.”

-

Nodding, the smile slowly fading from his face as he really takes in Archie’s expression. The wandering feet and rambling are new, and it... throws him off. A breath, a beat, a furrowed brow to match Archie’s. Are you okay rests on his tongue, but Charlie hesitates; From what he’d gathered from their few conversations and many few longing stares, that’s not a question that would go over well. 

Instead, he lets Archie speak, fighting the urge to vibrate out of his skin all the while. Was it warm in here ?? The towers were usually freezing. But archie was looking for him. His heart squeezes, the traitor, at the thought of being sought after. Don’t get your hopes up, Wood. Maybe he realized how weird your last conversation was and came to tell you to leave him alone. It’s enough to bring him back to reality. Tilting his head, “ Oh. “ for fucks sake, do better than THAT, “ Sorry I’ve not been around the Library and you had to come all the way here. “ LIES, he’s secretly fucking p l e a s e d that Archie wanted to see him badly enough he’d go out of his way to do it. Eyes flickering to the door to the tower, then back to Archie’s face, “ Do you want to talk here or.  Do you want to go somewhere not by the entrance to the common room ?? “